Sonic device for extracting minerals from ore

Abstract

A unit, which generates sonic energy for use in the leaching or extraction of minerals from ore, is mounted in a tank which contains the leaching solution and the ore. The unit has a housing in which a solid bar is supported by means of a rod which fits into a bored out bottom portion of the bar which is along the longitudinal axis thereof, as well as a plurality of resilient lateral spoke members which protrude inwardly from the housing and abut against the bar. An orbiting mass oscillator is mounted on the bar on the top end thereof and is rotatably driven to effect resonant standing wave vibration of the bar in a quadrature nutating vibration mode. The oscillator is positioned above the leaching solution and the ore so that it is free therefrom, the rod member used to support the bar and the resilient lateral support members being abutted against the bar at nodes of the standing wave vibration pattern established in the bar to minimize energy losses into the housing.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for generating sonic energy for use in extracting minerals from ore placed in a liquid such as a leaching solution contained in a tank, and the like, said device being mounted in said tank, and comprising a housing,   an elongated bar member,   means for supporting said bar member in said housing,   an orbiting mass oscillator attached to one end of said bar member, and   means for driving said oscillator at a frequency such as to set up resonant standing wave vibration of said bar member,   said means for supporting said bar member in said housing comprising a bore formed in the bottom end of said bar member along the longitudinal axis thereof, support means supported at one end thereof on said housing, said support means being fitted in said bore and in contact with said bar member solely at a point therealong where a node of said standing wave pattern appears, said support means comprising a support rod having cylindrical separator sleeves at the opposite ends thereof, said sleeve having a greater diameter than that of said support rod, receptacle means mounted on the bottom of said housing for receiving one of said sleeves, the other of said sleeve fitting snugly within an upper portion of the bore formed in said bar member, and cushioning means for cushioning said sleeves against said receptacle means and said bore and cushioned spoke means extending from said housing and in abutment against said bar member at at least one point therealong where a node of the standing wave pattern appears for centering said bar member and preventing the rotation thereof.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 and further including means for introducing a regulated amount of air into said liquid to enhance the extraction of minerals from the ore. 
     
     
       3. A method for extracting minerals from ore comprising the steps of feeding ore material mixed in a liquid to a container,   generating sonic energy with an orbiting mass oscillator,   coupling the sonic energy to one end of an elastic bar to resonantly vibrate said bar to effect a quadrature nutating standing wave vibration pattern therein,   said bar having a longitudinal bore formed therein, and being supported in a vertical orientation by means inserted in said bore, said bar being supported in gravity compression against said means inserted in said bore which means contacts said bar only at a node of the standing wave vibration pattern established therein.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the ore material and liquid are flowed vertically along the bar. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3 and further including adding air to said ore material and liquid in a predetermined controlled quantity below that which prevents cavitation in the liquid.